The 48-year-old - who won titles as a player in Italy, Spain and Holland - admitted he had just sat back and watched his side demolish West Brom.

Two goals from Wayne Routledge after Michu had scored early on was the least the Swans deserved as they popped the ball about with slick, one-touch football.

And Laudrup was purring with pride afterwards.

"The first 45 minutes were just outstanding," he said. "All 11 of my players were at their peak at the same time, playing one or two touches.

"It is one of the few times in 10 years as a manager that I have been able to just sit there and enjoy the game.

"Normally there is always some time when you are under pressure, or something that you want to improve.

"Let me tell you it was a very rare thing. It has not happened many times since I have been a manager and I don't believe it would have happened many times even for the managers of the teams I played for."

And the performance was a reality check for West Brom after enjoying a club record four straight wins.

The warning signs were there when stand-in keeper Boaz Myhill made an outstanding save to keep out Pablo Hernandez after a few minutes.

But there was nothing he could do as Billy Jones left Hernandez unmarked at the back post to meet Nathan Dyer's deep centre and a low cross gave Michu an easy ninth-minute tap-in for his eighth of the season.

It took only two minutes to double the lead and again Hernandez was the architect.

He ended his run by picking out a little pass to the unmarked Routledge.

Albion captain Jonas Olsson made a desperate tackle, only for the ball to cannon back off Routledge's leg and beyond Myhill's reach.

It was no surprise when Swansea went further in front after 39 minutes.

The teenager fired a low cross that found Routledge unmarked at the far post and he finished first time.

But what was almost a complete first-half performance was spoiled when right on the interval Olsson headed a Chris Brunt corner onto the bar and on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku drove in the rebound.

"We started so slowly it was incredible and although we gave ourselves a lifeline we didn't deserve it," admitted Baggies boss Steve Clarke.